The pumpkin is an ancient symbol of the autumn harvest. It symbolizes abundance and family prosperity. It is also a modern symbol of Halloween, Samhain, and the American Thanksgiving.
1. Worm Cure
It was believed that eating pumpkin seeds cured a person of worms. One folk remedy recommended eating only pumpkin seeds and drinking only milk for 24 hours. Then, taking a stiff dose of castor oil to make the worms leave the body.
2. Bladder Problems
Yet another folk remedy suggested drinking tea made from pumpkin seeds to help with bladder problems.
3. Jack-o-Lantern Origin
Before the hollowed out pumpkin, people in early England, Scotland, and Ireland would hollow out turnips and carve crude faces into them. A candle bit was placed inside and the turnip faces were placed in windows to frighten away the spirits of the dead. They were also carried around at night for the same purpose.
When the Scottish and Irish came to America, they began using pumpkins for this same purpose. The scary faces carved into the pumpkins were lighted by candles to frighten away the ghosts of the dead on Halloween night.
4. Good Fortune
Just the simple act of placing a whole pumpkin in your home or porch is said to bring good fortune and abundance.
5. Money Growth Seed Charm
A simple charm I encountered when I was in my early teens was to write a dollar sign on a few pumpkin seeds and then plant them in June. As the seeds grew, the planters bank account would also grow. At the end of the season, the pumpkins were harvested and money seeds were save for planting in the following year.
6. To See Ghosts
One unnerving superstition tells us that if one counts all the pumpkin seeds inside a pumpkin, they will see ghosts on Halloween night.
7. To Dream of Pumpkins
Pumpkins in dreams are sometimes believed to symbolize the presence of powerful potential, abundance, or the impending arrival of an unexpected visitor.
8. Harvesting Pumpkins
It’s considered bad luck to pick the first pumpkin you see in the patch. The belief is that by leaving it, you’re offering respect to the spirits of the field, who will then ensure future successful harvest seasons.
